CEO: Malaysia Airlines needs radical change to survive

Malaysian Airlines Group Chief Executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahyain, right, speaks to the press in the aftermath of the flight MH370 disappearance in March. Pic: AP.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia Airlines’ CEO says business has picked up four months after its passenger jet disappeared, but the flag carrier needs a radical operational overhaul in order to survive.

Ahmad Jauhari Yahya says the airline, which kept a low profile after the Boeing 777 disappeared March 8 with 239 people aboard, began to boost its marketing campaign this month and is seeing a “significant recovery” in business.

However, he says the only option for the airline’s long-term survival is to radically change the way it operates. He said Wednesday that a detailed business plan will be rolled out later.

Chairman Mohamad Nor Yusof says the airline is still “grappling with confidence and reputation” after the Flight MH370 tragedy, but ruled out the possibility of bankruptcy.